Is lack of capital hindering your plans to start a new business or buy an existing one? If YES, here is a complete guide on how to get finance for your business.
Do you know that the best creative or innovative idea in the world is yet to be unleashed or invented? Do you know that the world is filled with brilliant ideas that have potential to generate money / profits, create jobs and re-distribute wealth?
Well, if you are one of those that are constantly basking in the euphoria of developing a winning business idea; then you may need to have a rethink because having a good business idea is one thing, but the process of executing and turning your idea into a business opportunity is a different ball game entirely. And this process can never occur without MONEY.
“There are three components to starting a business. One is the right plan; two is the right team and three is the money. Rarely do these three components come together when starting a business. It’s the duty of an entrepreneur to grab one piece and start the business, the remaining two pieces will be found along the way. Finding the remaining two components may take a year or more than 10 years; the point is, start with what you have.” – Robert Kiyosaki
How to Get Finance to Start a New Business or Buy a Business
“In the game of entrepreneurship, the process is more important than the goal. When you start building a business, you begin a journey, a process. This process has a beginning and an ending and between the beginning and end are a lot of challenges. You will win only if you remain faithful to the process.” – Rich Dad
SECTION A – Preparing Yourself
Chapter 1: Evaluation Guide: Is your Business idea Really a Good One?
- Most people have too many business ideas in their heads. This chapter will teach you exactly how to identify and focus on one promising business idea.
Chapter 2: Preparing your mindset to deal with the challenges involved with raising capital
- This chapter addresses the various skills and characteristics you must possess to be successful in your fund raising quest.
Chapter 3: Crafting a great business plan: why and how
- This chapter discusses the importance of a business plan to your fund raising quest and how it can help you get the needed funds to start your business. It also covers details and strategies on how to write a winning business plan that gets the attention of investors.
Chapter 4: Choosing your Path to Fund Raising (Debt Vs. Equity)
- This chapter contains about everything you need to know about debt financing and equity financing. You will also learn the sources of both debt and equity financing which one is best for your business.
Chapter 5: Taking the first shot – why and how
- This chapter discusses the basics of bootstrapping and the importance of getting some funds from your end; as investors would be skeptical to contribute to your business idea if you have not shown that you are putting something into it yourself. You will also learn a few self financing strategies, its pros and cons, common mistakes associated with it, etc.
SECTION B: Raising Capital Through Equity Financing
Chapter 6: Raising seed capital from family and friends
- In this chapter, you will discover the common challenges of raising capital from family and friends. You will also learn a few strategies and techniques you can adopt to successfully get the money from family and friends.
Chapter 7: Raising Capital from Angel Investors
- In this chapter, you will learn who angels are, how and where to find them, how to connect and pitch them with your ideas, etc. You will also learn the fundamental principles of raising funds from Angel investors.
Chapter 8: Raising funds from Venture capitalists
- In this chapter, you will learn who Venture capitalists are, and their role in startup financing. You will also learn how to pitch VCs, common questions they are likely to ask you; plus the advantages and disadvantages of taking venture capital.
Chapter 9: Taking your company public through IPO
- This chapter is strictly for those that think big and love taking on challenges. In this section, we explain the basic concept of taking a company public, the advantages and disadvantages of going public; and the necessary steps you need to take to get your company quoted on the floor of the stock exchange.
SECTION C: Raising Funds Through Debt Financing
Chapter 10: Obtaining Small Business Loans
- This chapter briefly highlight the various sources of small business loans (Bank loans, SBA business loans, Government business loans), the advantages and disadvantages of taking business loans and the challenges you are likely to encounter when taking a business loan.
- Bank Business Loans – Covers the legal and financial requirements for getting a bank loan, plus the possible questions your banker might ask you before giving you a loan; and how to answer them.
- Government Business Loans – Covers techniques for applying for a government business loan, plus the legal and financial requirements for getting a government loan.
SECTION D: OTHER SOURCES OF FUND
Chapter 11: Raising Capital through Crowdfunding
- This chapter discusses the basic concept of raising money through crowdfunding, the advantages and disadvantages of crowdfunding; and the challenges you are likely to encounter when raising capital through crowdfunding.
Chapter 12: How to Get a Small Business Grant
- This chapter discusses briefly, the basic concept of business grants and highlights the various sources of small business grants (Grants from NGOs, Government business grants).
Chapter 13: How to Raise Funds through Mergers and Acquisitions
- This chapter discusses briefly, the basic concept of mergers and acquisitions, the advantages and disadvantages of M&As and challenges you are likely to encounter during mergers and acquisitions. Plus strategies and techniques you can employ to overcome such challenges.
Chapter 14: How to Finance your Business Expansion with Equipment Leasing
- In this chapter, you will learn how to successfully apply for an equipment lease, the challenges you are likely to encounter when taking an equipment lease and strategies you can employ to overcome such challenges.
SECTION E: Conclusion – How to Write a Fundraising Proposal
- In this section, you will learn how to write mind-blowing loan proposals, partnership proposals, grant proposals, etc. with samples to help).